Buddha Garden in Portugal

Not exactly what I expected

Our original plan for our Saturday in Óbidos also included a stop at the famous Bordello Pinheiro Ceramics factory and then a swing by Nazarene or Peniche to take in some waves. But our plan changed while speaking with a salesperson at the Comur shop. She mentioned she lived just 15 minutes away, near the Buddha Garden. I snapped to attention.

Not What I Expected

I am fairly certain that if I had a former life, I was a practicing Buddhist. I became fascinated by Buddhism in college and will never miss an opportunity to visit a Buddhist temple. Prior to coming to Portugal, I learned of the Bacalhôa Buddha Eden through a YouTube video. Honestly, the video made it appear to be a serene, contemplative place. Despite the fact that we are still not bursting with tourists, the park I visited was a bit different than that. We were at first surprised by the size of the parking lot and then by the number of cars and tour buses already there. Since the property is very large, it did not feel crowded. However, my first thought was “This is what a Buddha park would look like if Disney designed it.” But Denise and our friends disagreed. And despite my misgivings, I would recommend you spend the 5€ required to visit.

Bacalhôa Buddha Eden

The Bacalhôa Buddha Eden located in Quinta dos Loridos, which is a few kilometers from the villages of Bombarral and Óbidos, was created with a noble purpose. 35 hectares of a 100 hectares farm, dedicated to the production of wine, was set aside following the 2001 bombing of the Buddhas of Bamiyan. You may recall that MullahMohammed Omar, declared that two 6th-century statues of Gautama Buddha (which were 125 and 180 feet tall and carved into the side of a mountain) were idols. Following the assault, international outcry could be heard around the world, but in this small corner of Portugal, 6000 tons of marble and granite were used to create a unique remembrance and the largest oriental garden in Europe.

In addition to the section of the property dedicated to Buddhas, there is the huge koi-filled Palm Lake, the Garden of Modern Sculpture, an African Sculpture Garden, and even 700 Xian “painted” Warriors.

Did a Blue Man concert get a bit out of hand?

Final Thoughts

Perhaps I should have done more research before entering the gates…a bit of expectation level setting if you will. If you are in the area, it is certainly worth the visit; though based upon the size of the crowd the day we visited and the many tour buses in the parking lot I would plan to arrive early. If you have difficulty walking over long distances they even offer a train ride around the park for just 4€. And if you are into wines, there are plenty to purchase at the store you walk through as you exit the property.